Allergic Rhinitis

What is allergic rhinitis?

Rhinitis is a reaction that occurs in the nose when airborne irritants (allergens) trigger the release of histamine. Histamine causes itching, inflammation, and fluid or mucous production in the fragile linings of nasal passages, sinuses, and eyelids.

There is usually a family history of allergic rhinitis.

What are the types of allergic rhinitis?

The two categories of allergic rhinitis include:

Seasonal--occurs particularly during pollen seasons.

Perennial--occurs throughout the year. This type of allergic rhinitis is commonly seen in younger children.

What are the causes of allergic rhinitis?

The most common causes of allergic rhinitis include the following:

Pollen (tree, grass, weed)

Dust mites

Mold

Cockroach droppings

Animal dander

Tobacco smoke

What are the symptoms of allergic rhinitis?

The following are the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Sneezing

Congestion

Runny nose

Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears

Nosebleeds

Clear drainage from the nose

Children with perennial allergic rhinitis may also have the following:

Recurrent ear infections

Snoring

Breathing through the mouth

Poor performance in school

"Allergic salute"--when a child rubs his/her hand upward across the bridge of the nose while sniffing. This may cause a line or crease to form across the bridge of the nose.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's health care provider for a diagnosis.

How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed?

Typically, the diagnosis is made by your child's health care provider based on a thorough medical history and physical examination. In addition to the above symptoms, your child's health care provider may find, upon physical examination, dark circles under the eyes, creases under the eyes, and swollen tissue inside the nose. If this is the case, then your child's doctor may refer your child to see an allergist. An allergist is a specialist who is trained to perform allergy skin testing, which will tell you exactly what environmental aeroallergens cause allergic symptoms in your child.

Treatment for allergic rhinitis

Specific treatment for allergic rhinitis will be determined by your child's health care provider based on:

Avoidance of the allergensAvoidance of the allergens that are causing the problem is the best treatment.

AntihistaminesAntihistamines help to decrease the release of histamine, possibly decreasing the symptoms of itching, sneezing, or runny nose. Some examples of antihistamines are diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or hydroxyzine (Atarax). These medications may cause drowsiness. Consult your child's health care provider to determine the proper dosage for your child.

Nonsedating antihistaminesNonsedating antihistamines work like antihistamines but without the side effect of drowsiness. Nonsedating antihistamines may include cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), or fexofenadine (Allegra). Consult your child's health care provider to determine the proper dosage for your child.

Corticosteroid nasal spraysCorticosteroid nasal sprays also help to decrease the swelling in the nose. Corticosteroid nasal sprays work best when used before the symptoms start, but can also be used during a flare-up. Consult your child's health care provider to determine the proper dosage for your child.

DecongestantsDecongestants help by making the blood vessels in the nose smaller, thus decreasing congestion. Decongestants can be purchased either over-the-counter or by prescription. Consult your child's health care provider to determine the proper dosage for your child.

Anti-leukotrienesThese are a relatively new type of medication being used to control the symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis. These medications help to decrease congestion in the chest and nose and are usually given by mouth.

If your child does not respond to avoidance or to the above medications, your child's allergist then may recommend immunotherapy based on the findings. Immunotherapy usually involves a three- to five-year course of repeated injections of specific allergens to decrease the reaction to these allergens when your child comes into contact with them. Consult your child's health care provider for more information.

How is allergic rhinitis prevented?

Preventive measures for avoiding allergic rhinitis include:

Environmental controls, such as air conditioning, during pollen season

Avoiding areas where there is heavy dust, mites, molds

Avoiding pets

The link between allergic rhinitis and asthma

Controlling asthma may mean controlling allergic rhinitis in some patients, according to allergy and asthma experts. Allergic rhinitis is a common problem that may be associated with asthma.

Guidelines from the World Health Organization recognize the link between allergic rhinitis and asthma. Although the link is not fully understood, one theory asserts that rhinitis makes it difficult to breathe through the nose, which hampers the normal function of the nose. Breathing through the mouth does not warm the air, or filter or humidify it before it enters the lungs, which can make asthma worse.